Alex Panteliodis pitched a career-high 8 innings to lead No. 8 Florida to a series-opening 4-2 win against Tennessee (15-16, 2-8 Southeastern Conference) in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday.
Panteliodis (6-1, 1.99 ERA) allowed two runs on just six hits while on the mound, good enough to propel the Gators (22-7, 7-3 SEC) to the win on a night when they relied on small ball.
Volunteers starter Bryan Morgado (2-4) and the Tennessee bullpen held Florida to four runs and six hits. The Gators’ first run came in the second inning when freshman Austin Maddox led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored after a pair of sacrifice flies.
With the score tied 1-1 in the fourth, sophomore Daniel Pigott jolted UF’s offense with a two-out triple that scored center fielder Matt den Dekker.
Senior Jonathan Pigott and freshman Mike Zunino started the fifth with back-to-back singles. Shortstop Nolan Fontana tried to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Tennessee catcher Blake Forsythe committed a throwing error, allowing Fontana to reach second.
Jonathan scored on the Volunteers miscue and Zunino advanced to third. First baseman Preston Tucker followed with an RBI-single to give Florida a 4-1 lead.
Panteliodis pitched in the ninth inning, but coach Kevin O’Sullivan pulled him after he allowed a lead-off single. Junior Kevin Chapman came out of the pen and induced three-straight ground-ball outs to end the game, giving the reliever his sixth save of the season.
